Electric mail sorting machine



July 28, 1964 c. J. VALLAD 3,142,392

ELECTRIC MAIL SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

INVENTOR. U 626705 a. M44440,

47'7'06/VEY5.

July 28, 1964 c. J. VALLAD ELECTRIC MAIL SORTING MACHINE 5. Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Jan. 18, 1963 CA E 705 July 2-8, 1964 c. J. VALLAD ELECTRIC MAILSORTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1963 INVENTOR. 04570; c/#41440,

July 28, 1964 c. J. VALLAD 3,142,392

, ELECTRIC MAIL SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4FIG. 5.

: cusrus a. #44040, '75 i BY b' 28, 1964 c. J. VALLAD 3,142,392

ELECTRIC MAIL SORTING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 18, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

P76. 9. C4 5705 x M42440,

United States Patent 3,142,392 ELECTRIC MAIL SORTING MACHINE Cletus J.Vallad, Rte. 1, Pinconning, Mich. Filed Jan. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 252,36211 Claims. (Cl. 214-41) This invention relates to a novel electric mailsorting machine, specifically but not exclusively for use as a mailmanssorting case.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an eificient andpractical time and work-saving machine of the kind indicated whichprovides for the manual insertion of mail in compartments, correspondingto predetermined destinations or routes, and constituted by pairs ofhorizontally travelling separator plates and stationary bottom plates,while the separator plates are stationary, and then moving the separatorplates toward one end of the machine, whereat separator plates arewithdrawn from the mail, and the mail is deposited in receivers, thebatch of mail so deposited being compressed by succeeding batchessimilarly deposited, against a yielding pressure plate equipped clampingassembly, which, on stopping the machine, is adapted to be utilized toclamp together several batches of mail and be then transferred to andemptied into a mailmans bag or a mail truck, with the pieces of mail inproper consecutive order for delivery to consecutive addresses of hisroute.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thecharacter indicated above, wherein novel endless horizontal chains carryseveral vertically spaced horizontal rows of separator plates, thesechains being simultaneously driven for advancing batches of mailsimultaneously from one end of the machine to the discharge end thereof.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a machine of the present invention,including its haul-away cart;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections taken on the lines 3--3and 44, respectively, of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary horizontal sections taken onthe lines 55 and 6-6, re

spectively, of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 showing batches of mail forced againstthe pressure plate of a clamping assembly;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section takenon the line '7'7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken onthe line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are further enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectionstaken on the lines 99 and 101it of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is an exploded and fragmentary perspective view, partly brokenaway and in section, of associated separator plates;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on theline 1212 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 13 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 13-13 ofFIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary right-hand end elevation of the haul-awaycart;

FIGURE 15 is a group perspective veiw of a mail clamping assembly and amail tray;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a portion of one:

'ice

of the endless chains, showing adjacent separator plate carrier links;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a carrier link.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated machinecomprises a horizontally elongated, open rectangular frame 20, composedof a pair of transversely spaced perpendicular left-hand front and rearcorner uprights 22 and 24, respectively, a pair of transversely spacedperpendicular right-hand front and rear corner uprights 26 and 28,respectively, which are spaced and connected, at their upper ends, byupper and lower left-hand and right-hand cross members 30 and 32, and 34and 36, respectively, the lower cross members 32 being spaced upwardlyfrom the lower ends of the uprights.

Front and rear upper horizontal longitudinal members 38 and 40 areconnected between the upper ends of related uprights, and lower frontand rear longitudinal members 42 and 44 are connected to relateduprights, on the level of the lower cross members 30, 32 and 34, 36. Onthe forward or front side of the upperfront longitudinal member 38 areequally spaced pairs of oppositely directed and outwardly aligned andopposed card retaining flanges 46, adapted to receive and hold cards(not shown) which identify the destinations or sequential route stops ofmail to be sorted. Diagonal braces 48 extend between the upper crossmembers and longitudinal members, as shown in FIGURE 2.

A number of horizontal longitudinal shelves or mail compartment bottoms,herein shown at upper, intermediate, and lower shelves 50, 52 and 54,respectively, extend between and are fixed to the front corner uprights22 and 26, are spaced from each other and from the upper and lower frontlongitudinal members 38 and 42. The upper and intermediate shelves havependant flanges 56, on their forward edges, which have pairs of cardretaining flanges 46, which are vertically aligned with those of theupper front longitudinal member. This arrangement provides three rows ofmail compartments consisting of an upper row A, a lower row B, and amiddle row C. As shown in FIGURE 4, the shelves are formed with spacedraised longitudinal ribs 54, which reduce the sliding friction with thelower edges of vertically disposed pieces M of mail resting upon theshelves. A pull-out drawer 58, is slidably mounted, as indicated at 60,beneath a counter 61 carried by the front lower longitudinalmember 42.

A single assembly of flat vertical separator plates 62 serves all of therows A, B and C. The separator plates are of vertically elongatedrectangular shape and are formed, from their front edges 64, with upperand lower horizontal slots 66 and 68, respectively, which conformablyreceive the upper and intermediate shelves 50 and 52, respectively, withtheir upper edges in sliding contact with the upper surfaces of theseshelves, and the lower edges 74 of the separator plates conformably andslidably engaged with the upper surface of the lower shelf 54.

Three vertically spaced horizontal back-stop rods 76 have transverse endlegs 78 fixed to the front corner uprights of the frame 20, and arespaced rearwardly from the front uprights, as shown in FIGURE 4. Thebackstop rods 76 are spaced between the shelves, and the separatorplates 62 are provided with horizontal slots 80, opening to theirforward edges, which pass the rods 76 and their legs 78.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the separator plates 62 are formed in their rearedges 82, with upper and lower notches 84 and 86, respectively, on whoseupper and lower edges are formed upper and lower lateral fiat arms 88and 90, respectively, which, as indicated in FIGURE 9, are verticallypivoted on pins 92 which extend between v.2 spaced lateral ears 94 onone end of links 96 of endless upper and lower chains 98 and 100,respectively. The chains 98 and 100 are trained around single upper andlower left-hand sprocket wheels 102 and 104, which are fixed on a singleleft-hand vertical shaft 106, which is journaled, at its ends, in upperand lower bearings 108 and 110, respectively, supported on the frame 20,behind the shelves, and outside of the left-hand end of the frame, asindicated in FIGURE 2. These chains are also trained around upper andlower forward and rear sprocket wheels 112 and 114 and 116 and 118,respectively, fixed on forward and rear vertical shafts 120 and 122,respectively, which are supported, at their ends, in upper and lowerbearings 124 and 126 on the frame 20, behind the shelves, and adjacentto the righthand end of the frame 20.

The rear edges 82 of the separator plates 62 are further formed, betweenthe upper and lower notches 84 and 86, with two vertical spacedintermediate notches 128, which, at times receive stationary horizontallongitudinal, downwardly opening guide channels 130, which are mountedon the frame 20 between its end members. The separator plates 62 haveintermediate angle iron lateral arms 132, on the lower edges of theintermediate notches 128, which have journaled on their horizontalflanges, spaced upstanding leading and trailing rollers 134 and 136,respectively, the leading rollers 134 being located next to theseparator plates, as shown in FIGURE 6.

Similar but reversed upper and lower chain tighteners 138 are associatedwith the left-hand sprocket wheel shaft 106, which, as shown in FIGURES12 and 13, comprise horizontal brackets 140, fixed to and extendinglongitudinally outwardly from the upper and lower left-hand frame crossmembers 30 and 32, and have spaced upstanding ribs 142 thereon on whichare slidably confined channels 144, joined by cross members 146, whichare upstanding parts of journal plates 148, in which the ends of theshaft 106 are journaled. Adjusting screws 150 are threaded through thecross members 146 and bear against the related frame cross members.

The separator plate rollers 134 and 136 of the front flights of thechains 98 and 100 are guidingly engaged in the guide channels 130, asindicated in FIGURES 2 and 6, whereby the separator plates 62 aremaintained in parallel relationship, so as to define, with the shelves,and the back-stop rods 76 individual mail compartments P, above thefront of the frame 20, which compartments are initially verticallyaligned with cards in the flanges 46.

As the chains 98 and 100 are rotated, counterclockwise in FIGURE 2, theseparator plate rollers 134 and 136 of the front flights of the chainspass out of the right-hand ends of the guide channels 130, uponcompletion of a transit of the separator plates 62 to the right-hand endof the frame 20, and swing out of right-angular relation to the shelves,as shown in FIGURE 6, and are prevented from swinging too far rearwardlyout of folded position by upper and lower stop bars 152 and 154 fixed onthe frame 20 behind the chains, and angled forwardly to ward theleft-hand end of the frame 20, against which the free edges of theseparator plates slide. When the rear flight separator plates reach theleft-hand end of the frame 20, preliminary to being returned toright-angular relationship to the shelves and to be moved therealong inthis relationship, their trailing rollers 134 strike trips 156 and 157,in succession on the left-hand end of the frame 20, as shown in FIGURE6, so that the separator plates are tilted out of the foldedrelationship shown, and, as the separator plates move around thesprocket wheels of the shaft 106, their leading rollers engage thearcuate forward walls 158 of arcuate guides 160 on the adjacent ends ofthe guide channels 130, so that both rollers move into the channels andbring the separator plates 62 into their compartments forming parallelrelationship, at right angles to the shelves. The arcuate guides 160have tangential extensions 161, on the entering ends thereof, which 215*sure that the leading and trailing rollers are more positively andsmoothly led into the guides 160.

Mail, such as letters and the like, are placed in vertical position, inthe compartments P, the chains having been stopped, with thecompartments lined up with the route cards in the flanges 46, and whenall mail for the cornpartments has been inserted, the chains are againmoved, toward the right-hand end of the frame 20. As a result, separatorplates 62 successively peel off at the right hand end of the frame, thatis, are moved rearwardly from between batches of mail, as shown inFIGURE 5, so that continued right-hand movement of successive separatorplates 62 discharges or deposits batches of mail, in compressed orcompacted condition, against the stationary plate 162 of clampingassemblies 164, which are supported, on a level with the rows ofcompartments P, on the shelves 166 of a haul-away cart C, which isgroundsupported, in abutting relation to the right-hand end of the frame20.

The clamping assemblies 164, as shown in FIGURE 15, comprise thementioned stationary plates 162, from whose upper edge outer horizontalrods 168 and intermediate horizontal rods 170 extend longitudinallyinwardly, Movable clamping plates 172 have apertured spring detent ears174 centrally on the upper edges, through which the intermediate rods170 frictionally extend. In mail-receiving positions of the assemblies164, the clamping plates 172 are not in place on the intermediate rods170, but are applied thereto for clamping batches of mail between thefixed plates 162 and the stationary plates 172. The outer rods 168 andintermediate rods 170, in the mail-receiving positions of the assemblies164, are engaged in tubes 174 and 176, respectively, as shown in FIGURES7 and 8, which are supported from the right-hand end of the frame 20,beneath the related shelves. The assemblies 164 are held in place bymeans of gravity operated stops 178, which are pivoted, as indicated at180, between and beneath the tubes 174 and 176. The stops 178 comprisevertical levers 179, pivoted adjacent to their upper ends, and havinglateral arms 181 on their lower ends. The upper ends of the levers 179extend through the openings 183 in the plates 162, at an acute downwardangle, so that the levers are cammed up out of the way when a plate 162passes it, and then falls gravitationally to its depressed stopposition, behind the passed plate, as shown in FIGURE 7.

When the assemblies 164 have become filled with compacted batches ofmail, the stops 178 are released, the assemblies withdrawn, and theclamping plates 172 are installed on the intermediate rods 170, andpressed to ward the stationary plates, so as to clamp the mailtherebetween, whereat the assemblies 164 are removed from the cart C,and transferred to delivery means, such as mail bags, after the mailclamped therein has been tied into bundles, and the bundled mail droppedinto the bags. The assemblies 164 can be used instead of the trays nowused by postal routemen in their cars, and this use eliminates the needfor bundling and tying the mail.

The haul-away cart C, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 14, can comprise acaster wheel equipped base plate 186, from which rise a pair of spacedperpendicular posts 188, on whose upper ends are telescoped tubularuprights 190, which are spaced and connected by vertically spaced crossmembers 191 and 193. Vertically spaced open shelves 166 extend from theuprights 190, over the base plate 186, and two-walled trays 196 arecarried by the shelves 166 in line with the shelves of the frame 20,when the uprights are properly adjusted on the posts 188. Arms 200, onthe upper ends of the uprights 190 have hooks 202, on their free ends,which are adapted to be engaged in detent brackets 204 on the upperright-hand cross member of the frame 20, and the bottom shelf 166 hashooks 194 adapted to engage in apertured lugs 195 on the lowerright-hand cross member of the frame 20, for holding the cart C in placerelative to the right-hand end frame 24). A cross member 191 connectsthe posts 188, and across member 193 spaced below the cross member.191connects the uprights 194}. A'c'able 195 is connected f't'othe crossme'inber'191 and'leads upwardly to a ratchet f'drum 1 97, carried by thecross member 191, and provided with an operating handle 199, forextending and contracting the height of the cart C. A ratchet pawl 189on the cross member 191 cooperates with the drum 197.

The chains 93 and 100 are driven from the rear righthand sprocket whee-lshaft 120, through a reducing gear assembly 206 connected to the lowerend thereof. The reducing gear assembly 206 is supported on a base plate208, connected by brackets 210 to the righthand end of the frame 20,beneath the lowermost shelf 54. The assembly 206 has a forwardlyextending shaft 212 having a pulley 214 thereon, over which a drive belt216 is trained. An electric motor 218 is mounted upon the base plate208, and is vertically pivoted thereon, at one corner thereof, asindicated at 226, with the shaft 222 of the motor generally parallelingthe pulley shaft 212, and carrying a pulley 224, over which the belt 216is trained. A clutch level 226 is pivoted, intermediate its ends, on thefront right-hand frame upright 26, as indicated at 227, and is pivoted,at its lower end, as indicated at 228, to the forward end of ahorizontal link 230, whose rear end is pivoted, as indicated at 232, tothe motor 218, at a point eccentric with respect to the motor-mountingpivot 220. When the lever 226 is pulled forward, to the position shownin FIGURE 3, the motor 213 is pivoted toward the reducing gear assembly206, so that the belt 216 is loosened and does not drive the gearassembly, whereas when the lever 226 is pushed rearwardly, the motor ispivoted away from the gear assembly, and the belt is tightened to drivethe chains.

As shown in FIGURES 16 and 17, each of the separator plate carryingsprocket chains comprises carrier links 96 which comprise elongated flatplates 234, formed with elongated central openings 236, and having onone end thereof, lateral T-shaped lugs 238, whose shanks 240 arenarrower than their crossheads 242, so that when the crossheads arerotated and passed through the openings 236 and returned to cross-wisepositions, the shanks 240 are slidably engaged, crosswise, in theopenings 236, with the ends of the crossheads bearing upon the samesides of the plates 234 from which the lugs 238 extend. At the otherends of the plates 234, pairs of spaced lateral aper tured ears 244extend on the same sides of the plates as the lugs 238, through whichthe pivot pins 92 of the separator plate arms 94 extend. As shown inFIGURE 9, the teeth 239 of the sprocket wheels extend through the linkplate openings 236 to drive the chains.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the invention as defined by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

17 A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the supportadjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rods"6 defining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating thechains.

2. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaceu above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said separator plates having other slots opening to their forward edgesin which the back-stop rods are disposed.

3. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vcrtically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournalled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said separator plates having other slots opening to their forward edgesin which the back-stop rods are disposed, said shelves having maildestination indicators spaced along their forward edges for identifyingcompar tments.

4. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said separator plates having other slots opening to their forward edgesin which the back-stop rods are disposed, a single vertical shaftjournaled on the support at one end thereof, front and rear verticalshafts journaled on the support at the other end thereof, upper andlower sprocket wheels on the shafts around which the upper and lowerchains are severally trained, said separator plates having lateral armsat their rear edges to which links of the chains are pivoted.

5. A mail sorting'machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said separator plates having other slots opening to their forward edgesin which the back-stop rods are disposed, a single vertical shaftjournaled on the support at one end thereof, front and rear verticalshafts journaled on the support at the other end thereof, upper andlower sprocket wheels on the shafts around which the upper and lowerchains are severally trained, said separator plates having lateral armsat their rear edges to which links of the chains are pivoted, saidsupport having upper and lower horizontal guide channels, said separatorplate arms having spaced leading and trailing rollers thereon adapted tobe engaged in the guide channels to hold the separator plates of thefront chain flights parallel, said channels having entering ends andleaving ends, and horizontal stop bars on the support spaced behind thechains with which the separator plates of the rear chain flights areadapted to engage when the rollers are out of the channels and arepivoted out of parallel relationship.

6. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, 21back-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said separator plates having other slots opening to their forward edgesin which the back-stop rods are disposed, a single vertical shaftjournaled on the support at one end thereof, front and rear verticalshafts journaled on the support at the other end thereof, upper andlower sprocket wheels on the shafts around which the upper and lowerchains are severally trained, said separator plates having lateral armsat their rear edges to which links of the chains are pivoted, saidsupport having upper and lower horizontal guide channels, said separatorplate arms having spaced leading and trailing rollers thereon adapted tobe engaged in the guide channels to hold the separator plates of thefront chain flights parallel, said channels having entering and leavingends, and horizontal stop bars on the support spaced behind the chainswith which the separator plates of the rear chain flights are adapted toengage when the rollers are out of the channels and are pivoted out ofparallel relationship, said entering ends of the guide channels havingforward curved arcuate guides, trip means on the support in advance ofthe arcuate guides with which the separator plate arms engage to bepivoted toward the arcuate guides preliminary to their rollers enteringthe arcuate guides and the guide channels.

7. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, :1back-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mail-receiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said rotating means comprising clutch equipped motor means on thesupport and operatively connected to the lower end of the forwardvertical shaft.

8. A mail sorting machinecomprising a support, vertically spaced shelveson the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, a back-stoprod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support, adjacent to saidrear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chains journaled on thesupport behind the shelves and having front flights disposed above theshelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, and rear flights behindthe front flights, a row of longitudinal separator plates spaced alongand pivoted to the chains, said separator plates having forward and rearedges, said separator plates being vertically elongated and having slotsopening to their forward edges receiving the shelves, with the upperedges of these slots bearing slidably upon the shelves, said shelves,adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rods defining mailreceivingcompartments, and means for rotating the chains, said shelves havinghorizontal tube means opening to an end thereof, and mail clampingassemblies having rod means removably engaged in the tube means, fixedpendant plates on the ends of the rod means remote from the shelves, andclamping plates slidably and securably engaged on the rod means formovement toward and away from the fixed plates.

9. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, verti cally spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the support,adjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mailreceiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said shelves having horizontal tube means opening to an end thereof, andmail clamping assemblies having rod means removably engaged in the tubemeans, fixed pendant plates on the ends of the rod means remote from theshelves, and clamping plates slidably and securably engaged on the rodmeans for movement toward and away from the fixed plates, a mobile cart,means for separably connecting the cart to the delivery end of thesupport, said cart having shelves aligned with the support shelves,containers removably engaged on the cart shelves and adapted to receiveclamping assemblies removed from the support shelves.

10. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertieally spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the supportadjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mailreceiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said chains comprising working links and connecting links, said linkscomprising flat plates having centered longitudinal openings, saidplates having lateral lugs on one end thereof, said lugs havingrelatively narrow shanks engaged through openings of adjacent links andwider cross heads bearing against the sides of link plates remote fromlink plates, said working links having pairs of lateral ears on the endsthereof remote from the lugs, pivot pins extending through the ears andadapted to support and carry members spaced therealong, said memberscompris ing separator plates pivoted on said members.

11. A mail sorting machine comprising a support, vertically spacedshelves on the support, said shelves having forward and rear edges, aback-stop rod spaced above each shelf and mounted to the supportadjacent to said rear edges, upper and lower horizontal endless chainsjournaled on the support behind the shelves and having front flightsdisposed above the shelves and adjacent to the rear edges thereof, andrear flights behind the front flights, a row of longitudinal separatorplates spaced along and pivoted to the chains, said separator plateshaving forward and rear edges, said separator plates being verticallyelongated and having slots opening to their forward edges receiving theshelves, with the upper edges of these slots bearing slidably upon theshelves, said shelves, adjacent separator plates and the back-stop rodsdefining mailreceiving compartments, and means for rotating the chains,said chains comprising working links and connecting links, said linkscomprising flat plates having centered longitudinal openings, saidplates having lateral lugs on one end thereof, said lugs havingrelatively narrow shanks engaged through openings of adjacent links andwider cross heads bearing against the sides of the link plates remotefrom link plates, said working links having pairs of lateral ears on theends thereof remote from the lugs, pivot pins extending through the earsand adapted to support and carry members spaced therealong, said memberscomprising separator plates pivoted on said members, said separatorplates being pivoted on cars of links.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,290,200 Holmested Jan. 7, 1919 2,593,012 Croston Apr. 15, 19522,629,233 Olsen et al Feb. 24, 1953 2,663,434 Pierce Dec. 22, 19532,714,441 Nolt Aug. 2, 1955 2,773,584 Densmore Dec. 11, 1956 2,889,915McAuley June 9, 1959 3,015,380 McAuley Jan. 2, 1962

9. A MAIL SORTING MACHINE COMPRISING A SUPPORT, VERTICALLY SPACEDSHELVES ON THE SUPPORT, SAID SHELVES HAVING FORWARD AND REAR EDGES, ABACK-STOP ROD SPACED ABOVE EACH SHELF AND MOUNTED TO THE SUPPORT,ADJACENT TO SAID REAR EDGES, UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL ENDLESS CHAINSJOURNALED ON THE SUPPORT BEHIND THE SHELVES AND HAVING FRONT FLIGHTSDISPOSED ABOVE THE SHELVES AND ADJACENT TO THE REAR EDGES THEREOF, ANDREAR FLIGHTS BEHIND THE FRONT FLIGHTS, A ROW OF LONGITUDINAL SEPARATORPLATES SPACED ALONG AND PIVOTED TO THE CHAINS, SAID SEPARATOR PLATESHAVING FORWARD AND REAR EDGES, SAID SEPARATOR PLATES BEING VERTICALLYELONGATED AND HAVING SLOTS OPENING TO THEIR FORWARD EDGES RECEIVING THESHELVES, WITH THE UPPER EDGES OF THESE SLOTS BEARING SLIDABLY UPON THESHELVES, SAID SHELVES, ADJACENT SEPARATOR PLATES AND THE BACK-STOP RODSDEFINING MAILRECEIVING COMPARTMENTS, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CHAINS,SAID SHELVES HAVING HORIZONTAL TUBE MEANS OPENING TO AN END THEREOF, ANDMAIL CLAMPING ASSEMBLIES HAVING ROD MEANS REMOVABLY ENGAGED IN THE TUBEMEANS, FIXED PENDANT PLATES ON THE ENDS OF THE ROD MEANS REMOTE FROM THESHELVES, AND CLAMPING PLATES SLIDABLY AND SECURABLY ENGAGED ON THE RODMEANS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE FIXED PLATES, A MOBILE CART,MEANS FOR SEPARABLY CONNECTING THE CART TO THE DELIVERY END OF THESUPPORT, SAID CART HAVING SHELVES ALIGNED WITH THE SUPPORT SHELVES,CONTAINERS REMOVABLY ENGAGED ON THE CART SHELVES AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVECLAMPING ASSEMBLIES REMOVED FROM THE SUPPORT SHELVES.